Disclaimer: This blog post was written before the election and is meant to summarize the possible effects of the end of the Bush-era tax cuts. In part one of this series, I outlined the changes that could affect individuals on January 1, 2013, if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire. In part two, [...]
Throughout history, people all over the globe have invested their money into collectibles, including art, classic cars, antiques, coin collections, fine wine, and jewelry. In today’s unpredictable economic climate, many investors are again considering these as investment strategy options. Is this type of atypical investment right for you? What are the things you will need [...]
Have you moved and decided to rent out your old house rather than sell it at today’s depressed prices? Are you renting out your vacation property? Did you buy a foreclosure or short sale with a residential mortgage and—after you fixed it up—begin renting it out while waiting until you can sell it and make [...]
You’ve given your child an allowance, and set out rules on how she’s to use it. But—oops—she slipped up. She dipped into long-term savings for an impulse purchase or borrowed money from a pal without repaying it. How do you teach a lesson from these money management mistakes while your children are still young and [...]
There may be a new line on your tax return when you’re filing taxes next year. Have you paid sales taxes on any of your online purchases? Recently, there was a shopping frenzy in California as shoppers rushed to make major purchases before Amazon.com was required to start charging California sales tax. What’s wrong with [...]
It’s the curse of the procrastinator. Sometimes it’s putting off filing taxes until it’s too late. Other times it’s neglecting to pay a bill until it’s past due—a mistake that can seriously affect your credit score. Well, we can’t change the past. But if you’ve missed the tax-filing deadline, there are ways to reduce the [...]
Throwing a festive party can be the high point of your holiday season—but it can also be a jolt to your holiday budget if you’re not careful. Here are a few ways to warmly welcome friends and family while hanging on to your cold cash: 1. Multiply the fun: If you’re having multiple small groups [...]
One of the ways to teach children about money is to help them open a bank account. Most banks will allow you to open a savings account for your child, no matter his or her age. This is an important step to building a strong credit score for your child, and it can be a [...]
If you live in one of the nation’s largest cities, you might be wondering why foreclosures are getting worse in your real estate market than they are nationwide despite the encouraging headlines reporting that foreclosures are finally on the decline. The truth is that the national foreclosure picture today is a tale of two cities. [...]
When you’re sitting there, unemployed (or underemployed), trying to hold on to your house and keep food on the table somehow, you probably don’t really care that the money in your 401(k) was intended for your retirement. In fact, it’s likely you’re feeling a little desperate and want to do anything you can, no matter [...]
